As simple as the definition is, the reality of weddings these days are anything but. Instead a full production that includes hiring staff, dealing with contracts, maxing out credit cards which has led to the phenomenon of a Bridezilla when the outcome doesn’t meet the expectation. Let’s be real, this grand expectation put into our head from the media glorifying royal and celebrity nuptials. In turn having everyday people shelling out thousands of dollars to have what is dubbed a “dream wedding.”
Before the pandemic the cost of throwing a wedding had been steadily going up, in 2019 the average cost of a wedding was around $30,000. Yet, when the pandemic hit, all of that went out the door and all the pageantry fell to the floor when venues and vendors had shut down. With couples left with no other choice but to keep it to the essentials if they wanted to get married. Forever changing the landscape of the wedding industry and has highlighted small ceremonies, unique celebrations, elopements and even Zoom weddings as ways to celebrate love. In fact it normalized it as some were forced to trade in their expensive cinderella wedding plans for a backyard wedding at their parents house. Just to discover that actually none of the flowers, and table placements mattered. Fully cementing alternative ways to marry.
The dreaded word, Wedding when said can trigger thousands of dollars to fly out of your wallet without knowing why. When a client reaches out and inquires for our videography services, I never assume that the client is having a wedding, I often refer to it as a Love Celebration. Unfortunately as soon as you get the Wed out dollar signs cha ching in peoples heads like in a cartoon. Back in time when people lived in villages, the community would come together and pool their resources to throw a couple an intimate yet raging party in an open field and barn. Now the celebration of love and union have turned into a billion dollar industry that doesn't focus on the actual real act of a wedding, of eternal love and bringing families together as one. This has in turn spawned into a billion dollar divorce industry when couples intent and focus aren’t put first at the beginning of a marriage. I am not married and am not a marriage expert but it just seems real obvious to me from my observations in both my personal and professional life.
There are many nontraditional families and love out there and to slap this all encompassing label of a wedding to your celebration doesn’t seem appropriate. Any random stranger on the street, if you ask them what a wedding looks like they would say flowers, cake, and a white dress essentially. Before the pandemic some couples who are not religious or didn’t have a supportive family that decided to marry outside the the constraints of the label “wedding” maybe questioned sometimes even controversy ensues. The fact is, a wedding of bringing two families is an extremely personal event that should be met with extreme intentionality. Take today's concept of a wedding out of your head and just keep it simple and within a comfortable budget. Things are going to cost for convenience and to provide for guests however many you decide to invite.
Indeed your special day and the day to feel the most beautiful in front of all the people that mean the most to and supported you through your life till now. So do so with the things and people that mean the most to you in your life, not because it is trending on a wedding blog. The flowers will die and dry up, you will mostly likely end up trying to sell all of you table placements and only wear your dress once. Yet, one aspect on having a love celebration that is worth the splurge of either a wedding videographer and/or wedding editor. In the end, this is a very important day, this is your World in encompassed, it is indeed special and a memory you will cherish for the rest of the life. A wedding videographer can professionally and beautifully preserve the day for generations to come. Whether you hire someone to be there for the whole day to capture the essence of the day or if you prefer to use all of the inevitable photos and videos from your mom and other relatives into a moving family heirloom you can watch each year for you anniversary and share with kids, grandkids etc...Milan Arielle Productions are available for services so please inquire if interested, however I don’t want to make this a shameless plug.
Bottom line, let love rule on your special day, don’t worry about the timeline, don’t keep up with social media weddings and expectations sour the beginning of the rest of your life with your partner. Come to center and realize the most important factors you want to bring the next phase of life. Don’t worry about what your guest may think they should be happy for you regardless. So, does it have to be called a Wedding? Sure it can or not, the difference you have to decide is are you going to go through the actions of a wedding or just having a wedding, is for you and only you to decide.
Tell me what you think, does it have to be called a wedding? Or does the label not matter to you at all. What did you refer to your love celebration as so that you weren't spending thousands of dollars? Comment below!!